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Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19

We will update this document regularly as new guidance is put in place.

In-person on-campus attendance applies for the 2021-22 academic year.

No, not at this time. However, students are strongly encouraged to obtain vaccines and all appropriate boosters in order to protect yourself, your fellow classmates, and our STCL Houston community. Vaccines are now widely available. Visit Vaccines.gov to find an appointment near you.

Please see the guidelines below based on individual situations regarding COVID-19.

We will be following the CDC guidance regarding when students, faculty, and staff should isolate, quarantine, and return to school.  Please see here:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html

Here are some scenarios:

Scenario 1: I am experiencing two or more COVID-19 symptoms, but have not received a positive COVID-19 test (regardless of whether I have received a COVID-19 vaccine or not):

  1. Quarantine for five days from the onset of your symptoms.
  2. Email health@stcl.edu.
  3. You may return to campus after five days from the later of your symptoms starting to resolve or 24 hours following the resolution of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medication). You must continue to wear a mask while around others for an additional five days.

Scenario 2: I have tested positive for COVID-19 (regardless of whether I have received a COVID-19 vaccine or not):

  1. Isolate for five days from your positive test result.
  2. Email health@stcl.edu.
  3. If you have no symptoms you may return to campus after your five-day isolation, but you must wear a mask while around others for an additional five days.
  4. If you have symptoms you may return to campus after five days from the later of your symptoms starting to resolve or 24 hours following the resolution of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medication). You must continue to wear a mask while around others for an additional five days.

Scenario 3I have received my COVID-19 booster or the full vaccination primary series of Pfizer or Moderna within the last six months or the full vaccination primary series of Johnson & Johnson with the last two months and have no symptoms, but have been in close contact for 15 minutes or more with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19:

  1. The CDC recommends that you get tested five days after exposure and that you wear a mask indoors in public for 10 days following exposure or until your test result is negative.
  2. You may come to school during those ten days, but only if you wear a mask at all times indoors.

Scenario 4: I am not fully vaccinated or I have completed the full vaccination primary series of Pfizer or Moderna over six months ago or I have completed the full vaccination primary series of Johnson & Johnson over two months ago and have no symptoms, but have been in close contact for 15 minutes or more with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19:

  1. The CDC recommends that you get tested five days after exposure, stay home for five days from exposure, and wear a mask around others for an additional five days.
  2. You may come to school after the first five days if you develop no symptoms and do not test positive for Covid, but only if you wear a mask at all times indoors.

Please see the CDC website for additional scenarios and information on quarantining and isolation.

If you have a scenario outside of those listed here, please email health@stcl.edu.

The CDC guidelines as of March 4, 2022 states that masks are now optional for 90% of the country. Indoor masking are no longer necessary across most of the United States, according to the CDC roughly 70% of the American population lives in areas with low to medium COVID -19 risk.

According to the COVID-19 community level tool assessment, the state of Texas is currently on a low level risk for COVID-19 and the CDC guidelines following this assessment tool for states in the country with low level risk, individuals can wear a mask based on their personal preference and informed by their personal level of risk.

Vaccinated and boosted people can gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask and they can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, unless someone has increased risk for severe illness. *Source

No, at present, all classes will be in person, held on campus.

There is only one course delivery method: In person on campus. Students are expected to attend classes in person, in accordance with the pre-pandemic attendance policy.

Not at this time. There is no current online option for classes.

Until further notice, all classes will be recorded, and the recordings will be made available on http://stream.stcl.edu. Students who miss class due to COVID-19 quarantining or isolation will be granted access to the recording of the missed class. It is at the professor’s discretion whether to allow general access to the recordings.

If you have medical issues and/or disabilities, as defined by the ADA, that specifically limit your ability to attend all in-person classes, click here for our ADA policy, the application for accommodations, and our guidelines for documenting disabilities. If you have questions, please reach out to the Student Support office at studentsupport@stcl.edu.

Classes will remain 60-minute hours in the spring instead of the previously shortened time periods online under COVID.

Vaccinated and boosted people can gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask and they can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, unless someone has increased risk for severe illness. *Source

According to the COVID-19 community level tool assessment, the state of Texas is currently on a low level risk for COVID-19 and the CDC guidelines following this assessment tool for states in the country with low level risk, individuals can wear a mask based on their personal preference and informed by their personal level of risk.

Vaccinated and boosted people can gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask and they can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, unless someone has increased risk for severe illness. *Source

The CDC guidelines as of March 4, 2022 states that masks are now optional for 90% of the country. Indoor masking are no longer necessary across most of the United States, according to the CDC roughly 70% of the American population lives in areas with low to medium COVID -19 risk.

The law school is not enforcing social distancing at this time.

Yes. All COVID-19 safety protocols in place at the law school apply to visitors.

Yes, at the discretion of the faculty member or administrator. Contact the faculty member or administrator to make arrangements to meet remotely.

Yes.  Please review the syllabus for each course for details regarding office hours.

Yes. Career Resources, Academic Success, Student Support, Student Services, and all administrative offices will be available during business hours (9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday), and we are excited to see you on campus.

Yes. All COVID-19 safety protocols in place at the law school apply.

Decisions about whether to offer a virtual attendance option as a supplement to an in-person event held on campus will be made at the discretion of the individual event organizer and subject to the availability of ITS infrastructure and support. ITS support will remain prioritized for classes and instructional activities.

Whether students will be in person or remote for their fieldwork depends on the host organization.  The externship program is working closely with our supervisors to determine whether and when students will be able to perform their fieldwork at the host site. Students can contact the Academic Externships Clinics with any questions.

You can find the latest version of the 2021-2022 Academic Year Calendar here: https://www.stcl.edu/student-services/registrar-2/

For information on course schedules, grading, attendance policy, and course administration, visit the FAQ page on the Student Enrollment Services’ webpage.

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Changing situations and evolving issues.

These policies and guidelines will be supplemented from time to time with answers to frequently asked questions and updates to those issues that may arise as the semester evolves. Please take note of all updates and FAQs as they are published.

If you have questions about these policies or procedures, please email health@stcl.edu.

We trust that everyone in our community will adhere to these policies to ensure the maximum safety for everyone in our community.